Here are five tools that will make your treadmill experience even better:

Weighted Vest

A weighted vest is a crucial part of treadmill equipment and is a great tool for increasing the quality of exercise. A weighted vest is simply a vest with pockets that can be filled with heavy items such as metal bars or sand bags. The weight can be adjusted for your individual goal and vests are great to use as a supplement to your treadmill workout. Research from the University of Mexico even shows that wearing a weighted vest while walking on the treadmill increases the quality of exercise without increasing the perceived exertion of the exercise. It also increases strength, power, and acceleration while running. So, wearing a weighted vest gives better results without any more perceived effort. It’s like magic.

Whether you decide on a 10, 30, or 50 lb. vest it is sure to enhance your workout.

Pricing starts at $50.

Resistance Band

Resistance bands are a great way to incorporate other workouts into your treadmill routine. Resistance bands can attach easily to most treadmills and they allow a treadmill runner to work the upper body in a variety of ways while still working the lower body. They can also be used while standing stable on the ground. Basically, any upper body workout you can do with a resistance band off the treadmill, you can do on the treadmill. The best part is that you can do two workouts at once.

Resistance bands create a more refined muscle look rather than the bulkier physique that can result from free weights. Also, they are very intuitively easy and can be transported easily. They make for the perfect companion for your treadmill, whether it’s at the gym or at your home.

Pricing starts at $55.

Earbuds

A good run is oftentimes made even better by good music. The right pair of headphones or earbuds can deliver the realism of an orchestra while still letting in peripheral noise to help you stay alert while in the gym or out on the road. Also, wireless and bluetooth head phones are making it easier than ever to connect to your smart device and integrate with your treadmill experience.

Pricing starts at $30.

iFit

iFit is the revolutionary fitness brand that integrates with NordicTrack machines to provide personalized “smart fitness” to your home training routine. An iFit membership gets you access to custom workouts, Google Maps training routes, an exclusive social media network, competitions, and even automatic stats tracking.

The iFit opens up many new possibilities for treadmill training. For example, take the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred program. Jillian Michaels starred on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and now runners can train with her by utilizing iFit.

Also, runners can train anywhere in the world through the Google Maps feature. Run the streets of Paris, or hike the trails of the Grand Canyon. With iFit, a runner can go anywhere Google Maps goes with just a couple swipes.

A membership starts at $94/year.

iFit Wireless Heart Rate Monitor

The iFit Wireless Heart Rate Monitor is a standard chest strap that hugs your chest to take a continuous and accurate heart rate reading. It then can send that reading to your fitness machine, smart device, or iFit wearable so that you can stay in the right zone for your fitness goals.